With election to one of three seats in the Linn R-2 school district last Tuesday, State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong said he looks forward to offering input on how to consistently grow the district to keep up with growth at the college.

“For the community and the college to grow together, we need to focus on improving our tax base, and attracting families to the area,” said Dr. Strong. “I hear all the time that there’s not enough family housing, which is a concern for a lot of reasons.”

Dr. Strong explained that without affordable family housing, it’s more difficult to attract quality instructors at both the R-2 district and the college.

“Everything starts at the local school district,” said Dr. Strong. “We need good teachers who can earn a living and that want to stay. That in turn helps students succeed, and move on to the next level of education. That’s where State Tech comes in, because we are one of the best two-year schools in the country, and many of our students come from local districts.”

Dr. Strong added that he would like to be part of a conversation about bringing football to Linn.

“Based on my experiences with my own son, I know it’s something worth talking about,” he said. “I’ve talked to other people who either plan to leave the district or won’t come to the district because there are other places that have football, but it goes beyond that. We need to make sure we offer top-notch programs to suit the needs of our patrons.”

Linn R-2 had not had much success with increasing its tax levy, but Dr. Strong said there are ways to improve the tax base without raising taxes. “We have empty lots that can be developed with new homes, which would be very beneficial,” he said. “New family housing would create a lot of opportunities.”

New student housing has exploded in response to — and in preparation for — growth at the college, which has seen record enrollment for three straight years, and is anticipating another benchmark this fall.

“I think with everything that has been constructed, we will have enough housing for our students,” said Dr. Strong. “That’s a great thing, but we need to look at the bigger picture. State Tech and the community need to grow together.”

As Dr. Strong prepares for his first board meeting June 15, he is considering concerns raised of late regarding transparency within the school district, as well as decisions made that will have an impact next year.

Board members were encouraged to reconsider the four-day week, which is set to begin in the fall. Dr. Strong said it’s worthy of discussion. “It affects so many people, not just students in the Linn R-2 district, but those who attend St. George,” said Dr. Strong. “We need more input from all parties this will impact.”

He added that running State Tech is very similar to the role of a board member. “You gather input from everyone, and as much information as possible, and make the best possible decision,” Dr. Strong said. “That’s my goal as a board member.”

Perspective is a critical part of what Dr. Strong brings to the table. “As an outsider to the community, I view things a little differently, but the bottom line is that I will do what’s best for the kids in our district.”